Delta-8 cocktails, tiki and a new frontier

[Badfellow]

Follow me for a minute here.

So, many of you are likely already familiar with THC which is one of the main psychoactive components of the devil’s lettuce. It is also the component of cannabis that is classified as a controlled substance under US federal law, thus being illegal. In long form, it’s known as delta-tetrahydrocannabinol-9. That last number is significant as 9 is the analog or "version" represented when we talk about THC. Yes, there are others.

Now comes the interesting part.

Amongst these THC analogs is a close sibling of THC-9 known as THC-8 or more commonly as "delta-8". The chemical difference between the two is purely technical. However, it will effect the human THC receptors in much the same way as it’s big brother delta-9. And, of course, it falls under legality being classified by law as hemp rather than the dreaded wacky tobaccy.

Lately I’ve been looking into delta-8 tincture and how it might incorporate itself into a brave, new breed of cocktail. Experimenting at home is one thing; developing a freaky tiki delta-8 drink for a bar cocktail menu takes a bit more care and forethought. I’m using the Zombie as a home base and ranging out from there.

Doing a bit of research, one can get a 1200mg bottle of high grade, lab certified delta-8 tincture oil for just under $50. At a standard dosage of 10mg per serving, a bottle contains 120 servings which comes out to about $0.41 per serving. More than the drink itself, much of the appeal is the draw and novelty of having it on the cocktail menu and the mystique of adding the forbidding caveat "limit 2 per person".

Any thoughts?

[Patchez]

Should you require a test subject I will be at your service.

Also I like where this is headed. My only question is will it translate to THC legal states taste wise? I mean there are quite a few states were recreational weed is readily available, if they use the 9 instead of the 8 will it alter the cocktail's flavor profile?

[Badfellow]

There is no notable taste difference between delta-8 and delta-9. Flavor profiles come primarily from the naturally occurring terpenes that give weed (and other plants) their tastes and aromas.

In general, a half milliliter dose of delta-8 or delta-9 tincture oil added to a drink recipe would contribute a negligible amount of bitterness similar perhaps to a single, sparse dash of Angostura. In a Manhattan or a tiki drink of some kind, one probably wouldn’t even notice it.



It is also interesting to note that alcohol can act as an accelerant to hasten the absorption of edibles into the bloodstream.

[Rye and Coke]

I'm not sure if there is a taste profile to Delta-8 or not, but I think if it tastes as skunky as weed smells you might be able to compliment it with a Jamaican rum base.

Hell, fuck it, even if it doesn't have a skunky taste to it, throw some Jamaican rum in there anyway. How can you go wrong with such an obvious tie-in?

[Badfellow]

Hell, fuck it, even if it doesn't have a skunky taste to it, throw some Jamaican rum in there anyway. How can you go wrong with such an obvious tie-in?

Brilliantly observed, fellow Drunkard. It does have nice, irie vibe to it. Smith & Cross with a little Wray & Nephew. Fuck yeah.

[Badfellow]

Some of you may recall my mention of gardenia mix ("cold" stabilized butter, vanilla, honey, allspice). It may be that famous tiki drink adventurer Donn Beach receives proper credit for its creation. At any rate, not only does it add an incredible taste to drinks, it also acts as an emulsifier which will help evenly incorporate things such as oils without those nasty globs. Emulsifiers are pretty neat shit.

Here’s a prototype formula for the recipe I’ve been working on:

-1 oz. Smith and Cross Dark Jamaican Rum
-1 oz. Hamilton Pot Sill Jamaican Dark Rum
-0.5 oz. Wray and Nephew Overproof Rum
-0.5 oz. Plantation Pineapple Rum
-1 oz. Fresh squeeze grapefruit juice
-1 tbsp. Gardenia mix
-0.5 tsp. Fresh lime juice
-2 dashes Bittercube Grapefruit Bitters
-10 ml Delta-8 tincture oil



And so it would hit sweet, sour and bitter. I know from experience that the fresh squeezed grapefruit juice, pineapple rum and gardenia mix do some pretty incredible things together, especially with a nice, earthy dark rum. Chances are the small amount of delta-8 oil in the drink wouldn’t even be discernible.

However, something else to consider would be adding terpenes which are legal and commercially available. Say if one wanted to add a skunky profile, or a lemon haze profile or pretty much anything else. Spray it on your clothes and it acts as a sort of pheromone with certain people.